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Super late period and no signs of pregnancy!! What is wrong?
An_247426 posted:
I have always had regular periods. I think once or twice during my freshman and sophomore year of high school I may have skipped a month. I am now 25 and I have been with my partner for over 3 years. Back in May of last year (2011) I had a miscarriage at 3 months but the following month my periods were back on regular schedule. I have been diligently tracking for the last several months:
Jan 12-16
Feb 16-20
Mar 21-25
Apr 28-May 2
Jun 9-13
And then...nothing! No period since June!! It is now 75 days since the last day of my last period. This is very unusual for me. I have taken dozens of pregnancy tests starting from the week after my first missed period in July and all have been negative. I had brownish discharge beginning two weeks ago (off and on) and it has now progressed to light pink spotting (the brownish discharge was likely old blood). This is not enough to appear on my panty liner but enough to fill the tip of a tampon. I see it when I wipe (again, off and on). I feel extremely exhausted and felt very dehydrated (also going through a heat wave in my area) but no cramping or bloating typical of my period. I'm worried that if I am pregnant again that maybe I may have miscarried? I do not have health insurance. I did not test positive until 2 months when I was pregnant last year. I had a septic miscarriage that landed me in the hospital for a week and left me with a pile of unpaid medical bills including ambulance fees. But the symptoms are not the same as I felt then (extreme pain, heavy bleeding, high fever, extreme nausea with zero appetite - i was going days without eating! - unconsciousness). I definitely don't want to end up in that position again for financial/physical/emotional reasons and I am praying that if I am indeed pregnant I can still have a healthy pregnancy.
I went to a planned parenthood with my concerns about pain/bleeding/fever/extreme nausea during my pregnancy last year and I was sent home with an appointment for two weeks later even though I was seen by a caregiver and expressed my concerns. She told me to wait to my next appointment. The next day th epain was unbearable and I took two acetaminophen (a mistake?). I passed out in my apartment and was taken to the ER!! Hoping to find better advice because I cannot rely on PP
Help??
Jan 12-16
Feb 16-20
Mar 21-25
Apr 28-May 2
Jun 9-13
And then...nothing! No period since June!! It is now 75 days since the last day of my last period. This is very unusual for me. I have taken dozens of pregnancy tests starting from the week after my first missed period in July and all have been negative. I had brownish discharge beginning two weeks ago (off and on) and it has now progressed to light pink spotting (the brownish discharge was likely old blood). This is not enough to appear on my panty liner but enough to fill the tip of a tampon. I see it when I wipe (again, off and on). I feel extremely exhausted and felt very dehydrated (also going through a heat wave in my area) but no cramping or bloating typical of my period. I'm worried that if I am pregnant again that maybe I may have miscarried? I do not have health insurance. I did not test positive until 2 months when I was pregnant last year. I had a septic miscarriage that landed me in the hospital for a week and left me with a pile of unpaid medical bills including ambulance fees. But the symptoms are not the same as I felt then (extreme pain, heavy bleeding, high fever, extreme nausea with zero appetite - i was going days without eating! - unconsciousness). I definitely don't want to end up in that position again for financial/physical/emotional reasons and I am praying that if I am indeed pregnant I can still have a healthy pregnancy.
I went to a planned parenthood with my concerns about pain/bleeding/fever/extreme nausea during my pregnancy last year and I was sent home with an appointment for two weeks later even though I was seen by a caregiver and expressed my concerns. She told me to wait to my next appointment. The next day th epain was unbearable and I took two acetaminophen (a mistake?). I passed out in my apartment and was taken to the ER!! Hoping to find better advice because I cannot rely on PP
Help??2 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Super late period and no signs of pregnancy!! What is wrong?I have always had regular periods. I think once or twice during my freshman and sophomore year of high school I may have skipped a month. I am now 25 and I have been with my partner for over 3 years. Back in May of last year (2011) I had a miscarriage at 3 months but the following month my periods were back on regular schedule. I have been diligently tracking for the last several months:<br /><br />Jan 12-16<br />Feb 16-20<br />Mar 21-25<br />Apr 28-May 2<br />Jun 9-13<br /><br />And then...nothing! No period since June!! It is now 75 days since the last day of my last period. This is very unusual for me. I have taken dozens of pregnancy tests starting from the week after my first missed period in July and all have been negative. I had brownish discharge beginning two weeks ago (off and on) and it has now progressed to light pink spotting (the brownish discharge was likely old blood). This is not enough to appear on my panty liner but enough to fill the tip of a tampon. I see it when I wipe (again, off and on). I feel extremely exhausted and felt very dehydrated (also going through a heat wave in my area) but no cramping or bloating typical of my period. I'm worried that if I am pregnant again that maybe I may have miscarried? I do not have health insurance. I did not test positive until 2 months when I was pregnant last year. I had a septic miscarriage that landed me in the hospital for a week and left me with a pile of unpaid medical bills including ambulance fees. But the symptoms are not the same as I felt then (extreme pain, heavy bleeding, high fever, extreme nausea with zero appetite - i was going days without eating! - unconsciousness). I definitely don't want to end up in that position again for financial/physical/emotional reasons and I am praying that if I am indeed pregnant I can still have a healthy pregnancy. <br /><br />I went to a planned parenthood with my concerns about pain/bleeding/fever/extreme nausea during my pregnancy last year and I was sent home with an appointment for two weeks later even though I was seen by a caregiver and expressed my concerns. She told me to wait to my next appointment. The next day th epain was unbearable and I took two acetaminophen (a mistake?). I passed out in my apartment and was taken to the ER!! Hoping to find better advice because I cannot rely on PP <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/chagrin.gif" align="top" border="0"> Help??
Jane Harrison Hohner, RN, RNP responded:
Dear An: We are sorry to hear about your pregnancy loss and subsequent infection (septic miscarriage) last spring. As you may have been told, with an impending miscarriage HGC levels do not double every 48 hours. Instead, they may either rise very slowly or become detectable then fall. This MIGHT explain why it took two weeks to detect that pregnancy.
I can understand your concern, given your experience. You should have a current pregnancy ruled out. You mentioned it took two weeks to test positive with your last pregnancy; currently you have tested multiple times in the past 75 days. I would urge you to at least get a pregnancy test from Planned Parenthood.They can even order a blood test if indicated.
If your pregnancy test is negative then the next most common cause of a missed period is not having ovulated that cycle(s). In a normal cycle, estrogen is produced all month. Estrogen is responsible for building up the lining of your uterus so you have something to shed each month.
In a normal cycle, progesterone production increases following ovulation. Progesterone "stabilizes" the uterine lining in preparation for a possible implantation of a new pregnancy. If you are not pregnant that month the levels of estrogen and progesterone fall, triggering the release of the uterine lining—your period.
So, if you do not ovulate, the estrogen build up of the lining continues, but without the usual ovulation associated progesterone. Thus, the hormone levels don't decline, and the lining stays up inside the uterus—your missed period(s).
If you have been several months without a period, a gynecologist may give you some progesterone in a pill form (eg Provera 10 mg for 5 days). Within 48-72 hours after stopping the progesterone your "progesterone blood level" will fall, triggering the release of the lining that has been building up. Many women report that these periods are very heavy-- as though several months of lining are shed.
Causes for not ovulating are multifold: thyroid problems, pituitary problems, ovarian cysts, physical stressors (eg sudden increases in exercise, crash dieting), emotional stressors (problems with boyfriends/girlfriends, finances), increased body weight, anorexia, rotating shifts at work, etc.
There is a second, less common cause for not having a period. In some women the estrogen levels become very low. The levels are so low that no uterine lining is available to be shed. When these women are given the progesterone pills to take, no flow occurs after the medication is finished. This tells the GYN that the woman is not making enough estrogen to produce a thickened uterine lining.
Bottom line, please get a pregnancy test in a clinic. After three months it is considered time to try a short course of generic progesterone. If you have a bleed--the diagnosis is non-ovulation. If you do not have a bleed--low estrogen and more testing is needed.
In Support,
Jane
I can understand your concern, given your experience. You should have a current pregnancy ruled out. You mentioned it took two weeks to test positive with your last pregnancy; currently you have tested multiple times in the past 75 days. I would urge you to at least get a pregnancy test from Planned Parenthood.They can even order a blood test if indicated.
If your pregnancy test is negative then the next most common cause of a missed period is not having ovulated that cycle(s). In a normal cycle, estrogen is produced all month. Estrogen is responsible for building up the lining of your uterus so you have something to shed each month.
In a normal cycle, progesterone production increases following ovulation. Progesterone "stabilizes" the uterine lining in preparation for a possible implantation of a new pregnancy. If you are not pregnant that month the levels of estrogen and progesterone fall, triggering the release of the uterine lining—your period.
So, if you do not ovulate, the estrogen build up of the lining continues, but without the usual ovulation associated progesterone. Thus, the hormone levels don't decline, and the lining stays up inside the uterus—your missed period(s).
If you have been several months without a period, a gynecologist may give you some progesterone in a pill form (eg Provera 10 mg for 5 days). Within 48-72 hours after stopping the progesterone your "progesterone blood level" will fall, triggering the release of the lining that has been building up. Many women report that these periods are very heavy-- as though several months of lining are shed.
Causes for not ovulating are multifold: thyroid problems, pituitary problems, ovarian cysts, physical stressors (eg sudden increases in exercise, crash dieting), emotional stressors (problems with boyfriends/girlfriends, finances), increased body weight, anorexia, rotating shifts at work, etc.
There is a second, less common cause for not having a period. In some women the estrogen levels become very low. The levels are so low that no uterine lining is available to be shed. When these women are given the progesterone pills to take, no flow occurs after the medication is finished. This tells the GYN that the woman is not making enough estrogen to produce a thickened uterine lining.
Bottom line, please get a pregnancy test in a clinic. After three months it is considered time to try a short course of generic progesterone. If you have a bleed--the diagnosis is non-ovulation. If you do not have a bleed--low estrogen and more testing is needed.
In Support,
Jane
Report This| Share this:Super late period and no signs of pregnancy!! What is wrong?Dear An: We are sorry to hear about your pregnancy loss and subsequent infection (septic miscarriage) last spring. As you may have been told, with an impending miscarriage HGC levels do not double every 48 hours. Instead, they may either rise very slowly or become detectable then fall. This MIGHT explain why it took two weeks to detect that pregnancy.<br /><br />I can understand your concern, given your experience. You should have a current pregnancy ruled out. You mentioned it took two weeks to test positive with your last pregnancy; currently you have tested multiple times in the past 75 days. I would urge you to at least get a pregnancy test from Planned Parenthood.They can even order a blood test if indicated.<br /><br />If your pregnancy test is negative then the next most common cause of a missed period is not having ovulated that cycle(s). In a normal cycle, estrogen is produced all month. Estrogen is responsible for building up the lining of your uterus so you have something to shed each month. <br /><br />In a normal cycle, progesterone production increases following ovulation. Progesterone "stabilizes" the uterine lining in preparation for a possible implantation of a new pregnancy. If you are not pregnant that month the levels of estrogen and progesterone fall, triggering the release of the uterine lining—your period.<br /><br />So, if you do not ovulate, the estrogen build up of the lining continues, but without the usual ovulation associated progesterone. Thus, the hormone levels don't decline, and the lining stays up inside the uterus—your missed period(s). <br /><br />If you have been several months without a period, a gynecologist may give you some progesterone in a pill form (eg Provera 10 mg for 5 days). Within 48-72 hours after stopping the progesterone your "progesterone blood level" will fall, triggering the release of the lining that has been building up. Many women report that these periods are very heavy-- as though several months of lining are shed. <br /><br />Causes for not ovulating are multifold: thyroid problems, pituitary problems, ovarian cysts, physical stressors (eg sudden increases in exercise, crash dieting), emotional stressors (problems with boyfriends/girlfriends, finances), increased body weight, anorexia, rotating shifts at work, etc. <br /><br />There is a second, less common cause for not having a period. In some women the estrogen levels become very low. The levels are so low that no uterine lining is available to be shed. When these women are given the progesterone pills to take, no flow occurs after the medication is finished. This tells the GYN that the woman is not making enough estrogen to produce a thickened uterine lining.<br /><br />Bottom line, please get a pregnancy test in a clinic. After three months it is considered time to try a short course of generic progesterone. If you have a bleed--the diagnosis is non-ovulation. If you do not have a bleed--low estrogen and more testing is needed.<br /><br />In Support,<br />Jane
nikaka replied to Jane Harrison Hohner, RN, RNP's response:
Hi Jane,
Thank you for your reply. I started what I think is a period 8 days ago. I'm bleeding non-stop! Usually my flow is heavy for three days and tapers off in the next 2 days. THis time, its constant heaviness since it started. I am not shedding any lining. Just bleeding. I have no pain which is highly unusual for me. The first day Im usually calling in sick, writhing in pain, and throwing up any pain meds I try to take. I can't get in to planned parenthood until sep 19th and cant do a walk in because of my work hours. this is so frustrating because I don't have proper health insurance. I work at a clinic and have taken numerous pregnancy tests all of which are negative. What is wrong??
Thank you for your reply. I started what I think is a period 8 days ago. I'm bleeding non-stop! Usually my flow is heavy for three days and tapers off in the next 2 days. THis time, its constant heaviness since it started. I am not shedding any lining. Just bleeding. I have no pain which is highly unusual for me. The first day Im usually calling in sick, writhing in pain, and throwing up any pain meds I try to take. I can't get in to planned parenthood until sep 19th and cant do a walk in because of my work hours. this is so frustrating because I don't have proper health insurance. I work at a clinic and have taken numerous pregnancy tests all of which are negative. What is wrong??
Report This| Share this:Super late period and no signs of pregnancy!! What is wrong?Hi Jane,<br /><br />Thank you for your reply. I started what I think is a period 8 days ago. I'm bleeding non-stop! Usually my flow is heavy for three days and tapers off in the next 2 days. THis time, its constant heaviness since it started. I am not shedding any lining. Just bleeding. I have no pain which is highly unusual for me. The first day Im usually calling in sick, writhing in pain, and throwing up any pain meds I try to take. I can't get in to planned parenthood until sep 19th and cant do a walk in because of my work hours. this is so frustrating because I don't have proper health insurance. I work at a clinic and have taken numerous pregnancy tests all of which are negative. What is wrong??
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